The Venomous Abyss is the eight-boss raid of World of Warcraft: Midnight Season 2. Located beneath the Coiled Isle, the raid follows Zul’jan’s attempt to release the ancient serpent weapon Ula’tek and ends with Ula’tek herself as the final encounter.
This guide covers the current raid boss roster, release status, difficulty structure, provisional item levels, Great Vault rewards, tier-set token sources, notable loot, achievements and mounts. Encounter names and reward values are based on the current Patch 12.1 PTR cycle and may change before the raid becomes available on live servers.
The Venomous Abyss: key facts
- Eight raid encounters ending with Ula’tek
- Story Mode, Raid Finder, Normal, Heroic and Mythic difficulties
- Flexible 10–30-player groups on Normal and Heroic
- Fixed 20-player raid size on Mythic
- Five armor-specific tier-token bosses plus the Slumbering Coil Curio from Ula’tek
- Direct loot ranges from item level 279 in Raid Finder to 344 from the final two Mythic bosses
- Ahead of the Curve and Cutting Edge seasonal achievements
- Crimson Venomfang and Primeval Skyfriend mount rewards
- Launches with the start of WoW Midnight Season 2
Last verified: July 18, 2026. This article has been reviewed against Blizzard’s current PTR announcements, raid testing schedule and Season 2 reward notes.
Raid operations review: The guide was also reviewed by the ExpCarry WoW raid team, which coordinates more than 30 active EU and US raid groups and includes players with current or recent experience in world top-100 guild environments.
Players looking for an organized clear can compare all The Venomous Abyss raid services, including full Normal and Heroic clears, selectable Mythic progress and individual Ula’tek kills.
The Venomous Abyss Raid Overview
| Raid | The Venomous Abyss |
|---|---|
| Expansion | World of Warcraft: Midnight |
| Season | Midnight Season 2 |
| Content Update | Patch 12.1: The Curse of Ula’tek |
| Location | The Vaults of Atal’Utek beneath the Coiled Isle |
| Bosses | Eight encounters |
| Final Boss | Ula’tek |
| Difficulties | Story Mode, Raid Finder, Normal, Heroic and Mythic |
| Normal and Heroic Raid Size | Flexible groups of 10–30 players |
| Mythic Raid Size | Fixed group of 20 players |
| Current PTR Direct Loot | Item level 279–289 in Raid Finder, 292–302 on Normal, 305–315 on Heroic, 318–324 from Mythic bosses 1–6 and 344 from Mythic bosses 7–8 |
| Seasonal Achievements | Ahead of the Curve: Ula’tek and Cutting Edge: Ula’tek |
| Mount Rewards | Crimson Venomfang and Primeval Skyfriend |
When Does The Venomous Abyss Release?
Blizzard has confirmed that The Venomous Abyss opens with the start of Midnight Season 2. Season 2 begins one week after the Patch 12.1 content update goes live.
The final live dates for Patch 12.1, individual raid difficulties and the three Raid Finder wings have not yet been announced. PTR raid-testing dates are development events and should not be treated as the live release schedule.
| Content | Confirmed Status |
|---|---|
| Patch 12.1 | Official live date has not yet been announced. |
| Midnight Season 2 | Begins one week after Patch 12.1 launches. |
| The Venomous Abyss | Opens with Midnight Season 2. |
| Normal and Heroic | Final live opening schedule has not yet been published. |
| Mythic | Final live opening schedule has not yet been published. |
| Raid Finder | The raid is expected to use three wings; final unlock dates remain unconfirmed. |
PTR reminder: Blizzard can change boss order, encounter names, tuning, loot tables and reward values before release. This guide will be updated after the live Adventure Journal and official raid calendar become available.
Get any The Venomous Abyss service from ExpCarry: raids, dungeons, PvP, leveling, gold, farming, coaching, and custom orders.
All Eight Bosses in The Venomous Abyss
The current PTR roster contains eight encounters. The table below uses the present Adventure Journal and PTR order. The final live order may still change.
| # | Boss | Current Encounter Theme | Tier Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nek’zali the Soulcoiler | Amani spirits, Soulcoilers and the ritual used to restore Ula’tek | None currently identified |
| 2 | Entombed Sentinels | Two ancient constructs known as the Blood and Breath of Ula’tek | Hands token |
| 3 | The Lost Explorers | Possessed tortollan explorers trapped inside the vault | Shoulders token |
| 4 | Vashnik the Malignant | Lethal venom mixtures and the Chamber of Virulence | Chest token |
| 5 | Sszorak | A creature transformed by Ula’tek’s venom and the winds of Atal’Utek | Legs token |
| 6 | The Twin Fangs | Vexhul and Ithraz guarding the inner prison chamber | Head token |
| 7 | The Coiled Altar | Zul’jan, Hex Lord Malacrass and the final ritual to release Ula’tek | None currently identified |
| 8 | Ula’tek | The ancient serpent weapon imprisoned beneath the Coiled Isle | Slumbering Coil Curio for a tier-set armor slot of the player’s choice |
Nek’zali the Soulcoiler
Nek’zali opens the raid as the Soulcoilers attempt to complete the ritual that restores Ula’tek. Current testing places strong emphasis on controlling summoned enemies and preventing Amani spirits from empowering the encounter.
Entombed Sentinels
The Blood and Breath of Ula’tek form a paired construct encounter. Positioning, managing both targets and responding to overlapping abilities are expected to define the fight. This is the first currently identified standard tier-token boss.
The Lost Explorers
A group of tortollan explorers became possessed while searching the vault for ancient artifacts. PTR information points to a multi-target encounter with protection and spirit-management mechanics.
Vashnik the Malignant
Vashnik distills Ula’tek’s venom into increasingly dangerous forms inside the Chamber of Virulence. The encounter currently revolves around toxic compounds, environmental hazards and control of venom-based mechanics.
Sszorak
Sszorak is a creature reshaped by Ula’tek’s venom. Current PTR testing indicates a movement-heavy fight with dangerous frontal attacks and arena mechanics.
The Twin Fangs
Vexhul and Ithraz are the first creatures born from Ula’tek’s blood. Their council-style encounter requires the group to manage both enemies and coordinate overlapping venom effects.
The Coiled Altar
The penultimate encounter continues the story of Zul’jan and Hex Lord Malacrass. The fight centers on the final ritual required to release Ula’tek and currently contains some of the raid’s most valuable special-effect weapons.
Ula’tek
Ula’tek is the final boss and was not made available during the initial public raid-testing schedule. Datamined information suggests a multi-phase fight involving venom, eggs and brood creatures, but exact strategies should not be treated as final until the live encounter becomes available.
The Venomous Abyss Loot Item Levels
Blizzard increased all Midnight Season 2 rewards by another seven item levels on July 8, 2026. The table below reflects the updated PTR values and replaces older raid-loot ranges published earlier in the test cycle.
| Difficulty | Boss 1 | Bosses 2–3 | Bosses 4–6 | Bosses 7–8 | Upgrade Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raid Finder | 279 | 282 | 285 | 289 | Veteran |
| Normal | 292 | 295 | 298 | 302 | Champion |
| Heroic | 305 | 308 | 311 | 315 | Hero |
| Mythic | 318 | 321 | 324 | 344 | Myth |
Boss 1 is Nek’zali. Bosses 2–3 are Entombed Sentinels and The Lost Explorers; bosses 4–6 are Vashnik, Sszorak and The Twin Fangs; bosses 7–8 are The Coiled Altar and Ula’tek. The final two Mythic bosses directly drop item level 344 gear, equivalent to Myth 9/6 under the current PTR system.
Great Vault Raid Thresholds and Reward Tracks
The three raid slots in the Great Vault unlock after 2, 4 and 6 eligible boss kills. Raid Finder, Normal and Heroic Vault rewards start at the first step of the next upgrade track, while standard Mythic raid Vault rewards start at Myth 6/6.
| Qualifying Raid Difficulty | Great Vault Starting Reward |
|---|---|
| Raid Finder | Champion 1/6, item level 292 |
| Normal | Hero 1/6, item level 305 |
| Heroic | Myth 1/6, item level 318 |
| Mythic | Myth 6/6, item level 334 |
| Eligible Mythic Very Rare items and loot from bosses 7–8 | Myth 9/6 equivalent, item level 344 |
Direct boss drops and Great Vault rewards are not the same. Blizzard has stated that Raid Finder, Normal and Heroic Vault rewards move to the first step of the next upgrade track. A Heroic raid reward in the Great Vault therefore begins at Myth 1/6 rather than remaining on the Hero track.
Eligible Very Rare items and loot from The Coiled Altar and Ula’tek are awarded at the Myth 9/6 equivalent whether obtained directly from the boss or through the Great Vault under the current Season 2 reward design.
Nebulous Voidcore Bonus Rolls
Nebulous Voidcores return as the targeted raid-item system in Season 2. They are available as a Great Vault alternative from the start of the season, and the cost of rolling for a raid item is reduced from two Voidcores to one.
Because a Voidcore targets an item from an eligible raid loot pool, defeating the correct bosses remains important. Players should prioritize bosses that contain their missing tier pieces, weapons or trinkets before spending the currency.
Ascendant Venomstones
Ascendant Venomstones are scheduled to become available later in the season. They can upgrade fully improved Hero and Myth weapons, trinkets and necklaces up to the equivalent of Myth 8 under the current reward design.
Tier-Set Token Sources
Five standard encounters currently provide tokens for the five class-set armor slots. A full clear therefore covers all standard token sources within one weekly lockout.
| Boss | Tier Slot | Included in Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Entombed Sentinels | Hands | 2/8 or deeper |
| The Lost Explorers | Shoulders | 3/8 or deeper under the current PTR order |
| Vashnik the Malignant | Chest | 4/8 or deeper under the current PTR order |
| Sszorak | Legs | 5/8 or deeper |
| The Twin Fangs | Head | 6/8 or deeper |
| Ula’tek | Slumbering Coil Curio, exchangeable for a tier-set armor slot of the player’s choice | 8/8 only |
Tier-token drops are not guaranteed. The table identifies the relevant loot sources, while the actual drop rate and item distribution remain subject to Blizzard’s live loot rules.
Midnight Catalyst Changes
The Catalyst provides an alternative route to the two-piece and four-piece class-set bonuses. In Season 2, converted class-set armor keeps the secondary stats of the original item and can also retain certain eligible special effects.
This makes special-effect raid armor more valuable because an eligible piece can potentially be converted into a tier item without losing the stats or cantrip effect that made the original drop useful.
Notable Trinkets and Raid Loot
The current PTR database contains multiple role-specific trinkets across the raid. Final tuning can substantially change which items are best for each specialization, so players should avoid treating early PTR rankings as permanent BiS lists.
View current PTR trinket sources
| Boss | Current PTR Trinket |
|---|---|
| Nek’zali the Soulcoiler | Soulcoiler Ritual Vessel |
| Entombed Sentinels | Keeper’s Seething Core |
| The Lost Explorers | First Mate’s Shellward |
| Gebbo’s Bottomless Bag | |
| Vashnik the Malignant | Vashnik’s Sanguine Rancor |
| Fang of Umbral Malignance | |
| Sszorak | Idol of the Howling Nexus |
| Sszorak’s Ferocity | |
| The Twin Fangs | Preternatural Antivenom |
| The Coiled Altar | Hex Lord’s Dooming Idol |
| Zul’jin’s Guillotine Technique | |
| Ula’tek | Voracious Heart of Ula’tek |
| Font of Venomous Rage |
This is a current PTR reference, not a final specialization ranking. Check the final Adventure Journal and post-release class simulations before spending bonus-roll currency on a particular trinket.
Very Rare and Special-Effect Items
The Coiled Altar and Ula’tek currently contain most of the raid’s premium special-effect weapons. Eligible Mythic rewards from these encounters can reach the equivalent of Myth 9 under Blizzard’s current Season 2 reward design.
View notable PTR weapons and special-effect armor
| Item | Current PTR Source | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aman’muso, Warlord’s Vengeance | The Coiled Altar | Very Rare special-effect weapon |
| Maze-roa, Warlord’s Fury | The Coiled Altar | Very Rare special-effect weapon |
| Zatha’tek, Breath of Corruption | Ula’tek | Very Rare special-effect weapon |
| Jan’thrazet, the Soul Fang | Ula’tek | Very Rare special-effect weapon |
| Abyssal Broodfiend’s Bardiche | Ula’tek | Final-boss weapon |
| Caustic Repose Greatbow | Ula’tek | Final-boss weapon |
| Jaw of the Shackled Goddess | Ula’tek | Final-boss weapon |
Current PTR special-effect armor associated with Ula’tek includes:
- Awoken Dreadfang Cuirass
- Gaze of the Coiled Watcher
- Venomkeeper’s Horrific Cowl
- Chausses of Unbound Rancor
Eligible special-effect armor can retain its secondary stats and supported cantrip effect when converted through the Midnight Catalyst.
Ahead of the Curve, Cutting Edge and Glory
| Achievement | Requirement | Availability | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahead of the Curve: Ula’tek | Defeat Ula’tek on Heroic difficulty or higher | Only during the active achievement window | Time-limited Feat of Strength |
| Cutting Edge: Ula’tek | Defeat Ula’tek on Mythic difficulty | Only during the active achievement window | Time-limited Feat of Strength |
| Glory of the Venomous Raider | Complete the special achievement objective associated with each encounter on Normal or higher | Expected to remain obtainable after the season unless Blizzard changes the requirements | Crimson Venomfang mount |
Ahead of the Curve and Cutting Edge are tied to the active raid tier. Players who want either achievement should complete Ula’tek before Blizzard closes the achievement window.
Glory of the Venomous Raider is different. It requires coordinated optional objectives across the raid rather than simply completing the final boss on a higher difficulty.
Crimson Venomfang and Primeval Skyfriend
Crimson Venomfang
Crimson Venomfang is the current reward for Glory of the Venomous Raider. The meta-achievement requires the raid group to complete an additional objective during each encounter on Normal difficulty or higher.
These are coordination achievements rather than automatic full-clear rewards. The group may need to preserve targets, interact with encounter objects or defeat a boss while meeting additional mechanical conditions.
Primeval Skyfriend
Primeval Skyfriend is the mount associated with defeating Ula’tek on Mythic under the current Season 2 data.
The final live allocation rules, number of mounts awarded per kill and post-season drop rate have not yet been confirmed. The mount should not be described as a guaranteed personal reward until Blizzard publishes the final rules.
Weekly Venomous Abyss Priorities
- Clear the highest difficulty you can finish consistently. An incomplete high-difficulty lockout can provide less total value than a reliable full clear one level lower.
- Reach 2, 4 or 6 eligible kills for the Great Vault. Plan your boss count before the weekly reset.
- Prioritize tier-token bosses. Focus on the encounters that can complete your two-piece or four-piece bonus.
- Check your loot specialization. The active specialization affects your eligibility for many weapons and trinkets.
- Use Nebulous Voidcores selectively. Spend targeted rolls on bosses with important tier pieces, trinkets or special-effect weapons.
- Do not overinvest in temporary upgrades. Save high-value upgrade resources for strong Hero, Myth and special-effect items.
- Complete Ula’tek before the deadline. AotC and Cutting Edge become unobtainable after their achievement window closes.
Choose the Right Venomous Abyss Service
The informational guide explains the raid and its rewards. The following services are intended for players who need an organized completion.
| Service | Included Progress | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Venomous Abyss Normal Boost | Full 8/8 clear with item level 292–302 Normal loot | First clears, alts, entry gearing and weekly raid progress |
| Venomous Abyss Heroic Boost | Full 8/8 clear with item level 305–315 Heroic loot | Heroic gearing, Myth-track Vault rewards and AotC eligibility |
| Venomous Abyss Mythic Boost | Selectable progress; item level 318–324 from bosses 1–6 and 344 from bosses 7–8 | Mythic Vault runs, high-end loot and Cutting Edge progression |
| Ula’tek Kill Boost | Ula’tek with item level 302 Normal, 315 Heroic or 344 Mythic loot | Players who only need Ula’tek, AotC, Cutting Edge or final-boss loot |
All available difficulties, achievements and targeted raid products can be compared in The Venomous Abyss Raid Boost hub.
The Venomous Abyss Raid FAQ
How many bosses are in The Venomous Abyss?
The raid contains eight encounters and ends with Ula’tek. The current PTR roster includes Nek’zali the Soulcoiler, Entombed Sentinels, The Lost Explorers, Vashnik the Malignant, Sszorak, The Twin Fangs, The Coiled Altar and Ula’tek.
When does The Venomous Abyss open?
The raid opens with the start of Midnight Season 2, one week after the Patch 12.1 content update. Blizzard has not yet published the final live calendar for every difficulty and Raid Finder wing.
Where is The Venomous Abyss located?
The raid is located in the Vaults of Atal’Utek beneath the Coiled Isle.
What raid size does The Venomous Abyss use?
Normal and Heroic support flexible groups of 10–30 players. Mythic uses a fixed group of 20 players.
What item level does Venomous Abyss loot have?
Current PTR data places direct drops at item level 279–289 in Raid Finder, 292–302 on Normal and 305–315 on Heroic. Mythic bosses 1–6 drop item level 318–324 gear, while The Coiled Altar and Ula’tek drop item level 344 gear.
Which bosses drop tier-set tokens?
Current PTR data lists Entombed Sentinels, The Lost Explorers, Vashnik the Malignant, Sszorak and The Twin Fangs as the five armor-specific token bosses. Ula’tek drops the Slumbering Coil Curio, which can be exchanged for a tier-set armor piece of the player’s choice.
How many boss kills are required for the Great Vault?
The three raid slots unlock after 2, 4 and 6 eligible boss kills. The difficulty and item level of each option depend on the qualifying encounters completed during the weekly reset.
How do I get Ahead of the Curve?
Defeat Ula’tek on Heroic difficulty or higher while Ahead of the Curve: Ula’tek remains active.
How do I get Cutting Edge?
Defeat Ula’tek on Mythic difficulty while Cutting Edge: Ula’tek remains active.
Which mount comes from Mythic Ula’tek?
Primeval Skyfriend is currently associated with defeating Ula’tek on Mythic difficulty. Final live allocation and drop rules remain unconfirmed.
Which mount comes from Glory of the Venomous Raider?
Crimson Venomfang is the current reward for completing the raid’s Glory meta-achievement.
Official Sources and Verification
- Blizzard: The Curse of Ula’tek and Midnight Season 2 announcement
- Blizzard: The Venomous Abyss PTR testing schedule
- Blizzard: Curse of Ula’tek endgame reward changes
- Blizzard: July 8 Season 2 item-level increase
- Wowhead: current Venomous Abyss boss and item-level table
Last verified: July 18, 2026. This guide will be updated when Blizzard publishes the final Patch 12.1 release calendar, live Adventure Journal, final item levels and Ula’tek encounter data.
